Clifford McWatt

Wisden obituary

McWatt, Clifford Aubrey, died on July 12, 1997, aged 75, after a car crash in Canada. Cliff McWatt played for British Guiana from 1943-44 to 1956-57, and was one of the wicket-keepers tried by West Indies after Clyde Walcott injured his back and was forced to give up the job. McWatt was a useful left-hand batsman and a nimble keeper, who was Walcott's deputy on the 1948-49 tour of India but did not get his Test chance until five years later. Then he played in all five Tests against England in 1953-54, making some useful runs at No.8, though his chancy style led one headline writer to call him McCatt - for his many lives. In Georgetown, his eighth-wicket stand with J. K. Holt (who was to die a few days before him) might have saved the follow-on. But with the stand on 99, McWatt was run out. Though McWatt himself later said he was out by about two yards, the crowd began hurling missiles at the umpire, Badge Menzies, and play was halted for ten minutes. McWatt was chosen once more against Australia a year later. He emigrated to Canada in 1986 but remained a close follower of the game.

Wisden Cricketers' Almanack